In the New Covenant church, as revealed in Scripture, there are few rituals, yet those that exist hold profound significance. Among these, the bread and wine of Passover stand out as essential practices instituted by God. These elements are not merely symbolic but are intended by Him to be physically observed, serving as effective teaching instruments to deepen our understanding and connection with Him. The bread and wine of Passover are central to this ritual, uniting us in fellowship with God and with one another who partake of them. The bread, symbolizing the body of Christ, represents life and sustenance, drawing from its cultural importance as a staple food considered a gift from heaven. It signifies the sinless life of Christ, which strengthens us spiritually as we partake, joining us to His living presence and fostering an ongoing relationship with Him. This act of eating the bread reflects a shared communion, emphasizing life over death, and points to the future fulfillment in the Kingdom. Likewise, the wine, representing the blood of Christ, symbolizes the New Covenant sealed by His sacrifice. It embodies a pledge of God's faithfulness and the promise of eternal life, enhancing the quality of our existence beyond physical satisfaction to a spiritual rejoicing. The wine, as the blood of the covenant, signifies not only remission of sins but also God's commitment to perfect us, an ongoing process that culminates in the future Kingdom when Passover will be fully realized. Together, the bread and wine form a sacrificial meal that signifies God's acceptance and His pleasure in our presence. They are a solemn yet joyful celebration of peace, well-being, and communion with Him and with fellow believers. Through these elements, we are reminded of Christ's death that sealed the covenant, and we express gratitude for the spiritual abundance and hope that stem from God's unwavering faithfulness. However, we must guard against observing this ritual on autopilot, ensuring that our participation is mindful and engaged, lest the intended significance and transformative effect He desires be lost. Our approach to the bread and wine must reflect a deep appreciation, as our conduct and relationships throughout the year reveal the true value we place on this covenantal bond with Him.

As we observe the Passover each year at the beginning of the 14th of Abib, we partake of the bread and wine to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. These elements hold profound significance in the context of this annual feast, representing a sacrificial meal that unites us with God and with one another. The bread symbolizes the body of Christ, a symbol of life, even eternal life, reflecting the sinless life He lived. When we partake of the bread, we become one with the living Savior, gaining spiritual strength as it represents the bread of life that endures to everlasting life. The wine, in turn, represents the blood of the New Covenant, a pledge of God's faithfulness and a testimony of eternal life. It signifies a covenantal relationship with God, encompassing not only the remission of sins but also a deeper fellowship that allows us to know the Father and the Son. Through drinking the wine, we internalize the blood of the covenant, a commitment by God to make us complete in every good work, culminating in our spiritual fulfillment. During the Passover, the focus is on fellowship and communion, as seen in the shared meal that echoes the peace offering, where harmony and satisfaction prevail because of God's gracious acceptance. The bread and wine, as elements of this meal, underscore the peace and well-being we experience in Christ, uniting us as one body through partaking of that one bread. This observance is a solemn yet joyful celebration of the divine fellowship facilitated by Jesus Christ, highlighting God's mercy and the ongoing relationship with Him rather than a focus on sin.

Jesus Christ, in His supreme victory, offered Himself in complete devotion to the Father, and His death reconciled God and men, making fellowship possible. In the Passover, as described by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 10:16-17, the cup of blessing and the bread which we break are acts of communion, signifying sharing, participation, and fellowship with Christ. The bread, broken for sharing, remains one bread, symbolizing that we are part of one unbroken body, Christ's body, uniting us with Him who is not divided. Jesus Himself spoke of bread as a symbol of life, not death, emphasizing its connection to vitality and strength. In John 6, He declares, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger," and further, "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." He consistently presents bread as living bread, representing His living flesh and a living body, a source of eternal life for those who partake. While aspects of the Passover, such as the wine representing shed blood, picture death, the bread remains a symbol of life—the sinless life Christ lived in devoted service, offered to the world for life. Eating the bread at Passover symbolizes partaking of the living Savior, abiding in Him and He in us, connecting us to His perfect, sinless life.

In the solemn observance of the Lord's Supper, Jesus Christ, on the tragic night before His death, introduced the bread and wine as symbols of His sacrifice. As recorded, during the last Passover supper, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body." He then took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This ordinance, instituted at a definite hour after sundown on the 14th of Abib, was to be a memorial in remembrance of His death, observed annually at the same set time as the Passover had been. The connection between the Old Testament Passover and the New Testament Lord's Supper reveals a continuity of purpose. Just as the Passover lamb's blood protected the Israelites, the bread and wine now symbolize Christ's broken body and shed blood, commemorating our deliverance from sin. Jesus, our Passover, was sacrificed on the same day the lambs were slain, reinforcing the annual observance on the 14th of Abib after sunset. The early Church followed this example, observing the Lord's Supper once a year during the Days of Unleavened Bread. The bread and wine are to be taken worthily, in the correct manner and at the appointed time, to avoid partaking unworthily. This sacred ordinance, commanded to be kept forever, was changed by Jesus from the physical lamb to the symbolic elements, yet the timing remains as it was set, to be observed with reverence on the anniversary of His crucifixion.

As we prepare to keep the Passover with the King of Peace, we are reminded of the profound significance of the peace meal shared through bread and wine. In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine to refresh Abram after his battle, blessing him and acknowledging God's deliverance of his enemies. This shared meal with the King of Peace, who was the preincarnate Son of God, marked a pivotal moment for Abram, symbolizing a type of the memorial we observe at the beginning of the 14th day of the first month. This act of sharing bread and wine resonates as a peace offering, a reminder of the unity and fellowship we are called to maintain within the body of Christ. On the night of His last Passover as a man, Jesus Christ took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said to His disciples, "This is My body which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise, He took the cup after supper, declaring, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." As recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, this act proclaims the Lord's death until He returns, urging us to examine ourselves so that we do not partake in an unworthy manner, lest we bring judgment upon ourselves by not discerning the Lord's body. The peace meal, exemplified by Melchizedek's offering to Abram and reiterated by Christ with His disciples, calls us to a deep commitment of outgoing concern and humble service to one another. As we approach the Passover, we must reflect on how well we treat each member of the body of Christ, striving for the unity that Christ commanded His friends to uphold. This memorial, observed annually, serves as a renewal of our vow at baptism to live as Christ lives, sharing in the peace offering with thanksgiving and dedication to remain faithful to Him and to each other.